Shloka 22
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Homecoming, Sacrificial Assembly, and Instruction on Devotional Kingship
अहं दण्डधरो राजा प्रजानामिह योजित: । रक्षिता वृत्तिद: स्वेषु सेतुषु स्थापिता पृथक् ॥ २२ ॥
ahaṁ daṇḍa-dharo rājā prajānām iha yojitaḥ rakṣitā vṛttidaḥ sveṣu setuṣu sthāpitā pṛthak
King Pṛthu said: I am the scepter-bearing king, appointed here for the citizens; I protect them and grant them their proper occupations, each within the boundaries of order established by Vedic law.
A king is supposed to be appointed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to look after the interests of his particular planet. On every planet there is a predominating person, just as we now see that in every country there is a president. If one is president or king, it should be understood that this opportunity has been given to him by the Supreme Lord. According to the Vedic system, the king is considered a representative of Godhead and is offered respects by the citizens as God in the human form of life. Actually, according to Vedic information, the Supreme Lord maintains all living entities, and especially human beings, to elevate them to the highest perfection. After many, many births in lower species, when a living entity evolves to the human form of life and in particular to the civilized human form of life, his society must be divided into four gradations, as ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Bhagavad-gītā ( cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭam, etc.). The four social orders — the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras — are natural divisions of human society, and as declared by Pṛthu Mahārāja, every man in his respective social order must have proper employment for his livelihood. It is the duty of the king or the government to insure that the people observe the social order and that they are also employed in their respective occupational duties. In modern times, since the protection of the government or the king has been withdrawn, social order has practically collapsed. No one knows who is a brāhmaṇa, who is a kṣatriya, who is a vaiśya or who is a śūdra, and people claim to belong to a particular social order by birthright only. It is the duty of the government to reestablish social order in terms of occupational duties and the modes of material nature, for that will make the entire world population actually civilized. If it does not observe the institutional functions of the four social orders, human society is no better than animal society, in which there is never tranquillity, peace and prosperity but only chaos and confusion. Mahārāja Pṛthu, as an ideal king, strictly observed the maintenance of the Vedic social order.
FAQs
This verse states that the king is appointed as daṇḍa-dhara—one who administers justice—while also protecting the citizens and ensuring proper livelihood and social order.
Pṛthu explains his role as an administrator: to maintain dharma by fair punishment, protection, and by establishing people within appropriate duties and limits so society remains peaceful and regulated.
It emphasizes responsible leadership: protect those under your care, ensure fair rules, support honest livelihoods, and set clear boundaries so individuals can act according to their roles without exploitation.